capitol hill this afternoon. senate republicans have successfully blocked an effort to repeal the controversy don't ask, don't tell policy. don't ask, don't tell bans gays from openly serving in the military. and now as andrea tells us, gay rights groups worry they may have missed a crucial opportunity. she is live in the newsroom with more on the vote. andrea. >> that vote was a major defeat for senate democrats and gay rights advocates. many saw this bill as the last chance to overturn the law before the november elections. >> democrats were counting on republican susan collins to break ranks and support the bill. she changed her mind at the last minute. >> i think we should welcome the service of these individuals. but i cannot vote to proceed to this bill under a situation that is going to shut down the debate and preclude republican

amendments. >> with the 56 to 43 vote, the democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed for the bill to move forward and ultimately lift the ban on gays serving in the military. >> this year, a year when we have forces engaged in ground combat as we speak, it's not the year for the senate to suddenly say no, we're not going to pass this kind of legislation. >> another setback for the bill, president obama's pick for common of the marine corps said repealing don't ask, don't tell would be a distraction. >> i don't know yet what the impact on recruiting will be in our combat. >> defense secretary, robert gates had asked congress to wait on the vote until december. that's when the military is expected to complete its study on the impact of gays on soldier moral and battle effectiveness. >> many top senate republicans agreed, including former pow,

john mccain. by the way, an estimated 13,000 gay service members have been discharged under the law since it was created under president clinton in 1993. lesley. andrea reporting, thank you. a helicopter crash in afghanistan skilled ten nato troops. nine are believed to be americans. one is an afghan soldier. this is the worse chopper crash since the fighting began in 2001. the military does not know what brought the chopper down. the taliban claims insurgents shot it down, but nato says there were no reports of enemy fire in the area. dc attorney general, peter nichols has been referred to the bar of association for alleged conflict of interest. before taking the attorney general job, nichols was the lead attorney. now of course, he works for the city. according to the washington post, nichols resigned from the lawsuit before he became attorney general and he has

reportedly called this complaint against him completely frithilous. >> 9news now learned that highly anticipated meeting has been set. bruce johnson has been talking with people in the know. you are here with the story first. fill us in. >> no doubt the very first meeting and most important meeting probably to come within six months. lesley, the meeting between vincent gray and michelle will take place on thursday of this week. the time is set for noon. the location is the wilson building and the office of gray, the dc council chairman and soon to be mayor of the district. sources won't say who else will be in that meeting, but the belief is that it will be just the two of them. they will, of course, be discussing whether michelle wants to remain in the job of chancellor once gray takes over and if gray wants her to stay. he said he doesn't like her style, not inclusive enough, he says. she said she is not sure he's as committed as her reforms.

>> well, it would seem as if michelle has said in some ways that she is not interested in staying here under new leadership. >> and if you look at the interview she did on oprah, which would tape before the primary, how could she say? there are major differences between them. she says going -- she will be asked if she wants to go. she already made up her mind, according to those closest to the situation. we don't know what his situation is. because of the support they got, he probably won't be able to keep her on board. so the question becomes how long will this meeting on thursday, if she's going or if he wants to go, it will be a short meeting. probably the first of several meetings. we'll have to see. >> we'll have to see if they talk to us. >> i think they'll talk. >> bruce johnson, thank you for that. we are continuing to follow the hit-and-run accident in prince georges accident that involves

a politician. that is now a death investigation. natasha sucomeed to those injuries. you talked to someone who said she saw the accident that happened early sunday morning there. >> that's right. we were out here at the accident scene when investigators arrived and so did the victim's mother. the witness who was driving by saw all of the commotion and decided to stop by and talk to us and she gave us an earful. >> maryland state police investigators returned to the scene of sunday's fatal hit-and- run tuesday. and so did an eyewitness who saw what happened shortly after this cat lack escalade mowed down natasha while she was biking near prince georges county community college. >> it was going slow. i saw sparks coming from underneath the vehicle. >> sparks coming from underneath the vehicle? >> there were sparks coming from underneath the vehicle. i saw the suv pull over to the

side of the road. i saw smoke coming from the front of the suv. >> the driver of the suv continued for almost 3 miles to her home. she told police she thought she hit a dog. the victim's mother sat for hours next to the bloodstained area where natasha was left to die by that hit-and-run driver. >> i asked that we have an investigation. i would like to ask that we have a thorough investigation. >> and officials tell us that investigation is on going, but a report won't be ready for weeks, perhaps months and that's when charges, if any, will be filed. meanwhile, the victim's mother says she plans to hold a candle light vigil here at the scene of natasha's death. back to you. >> all right, armando. coming up on 9news now -- >> they give it to me and you

better -- >> for the first time, president obama's estranged aunt talks about her immigration status and why she is here illegally. it's an interview you'll only see here on 9. but up next, a consumer alert on the cost of getting rid of very unwanted home invaders. and topper has your forecast. >> what a great day. we'll take you out with the almanac. you can access this on our website. a real sparkler. 80 and 56 goes in the books. average is 78 and 60. we'll talk fall and summer. we'll explain in a minute.

tonight's consumer alert is about this year's most unwanted house guest. books in urbana library. cleanup is not covered by your homeowner's insurance. the price can vary based on severity. it can cost you easily more than a thousand dollars. we are taking a look at news where you live and we are zoning in, and maryland's biggest consignment sale is back. the top swap returns tomorrow, september 22. go to wusa9.com. click under the where you live section and click change and then click gaithersburg and you'll get a lot more information. and while you're there, you can find your community in our

where you live section. if you have a story or news tip, we want to hear about it. contact us and be part of the wusa9.com team. and since we are checking on things, might as well check in and see how the roads are doing. >> hey there, lesley. thanks so much. it was hard to see this time of day because of the sun glare. but jam packed, no accidents here, just volume. same story over to fairfax county parkway. other routes slowing things down this afternoon. 495, from 395 to 267. the slowest is 20 minutes and 66. about 25 minutes and growing out towards 7100. that's a quick check of your community. more weather coming up after the break.

right here in this neighborhood, i grew up learning strong families and hard work means opportunity. and that starts with good schools. it's a tradition here in maryland-- and why in these tough times i've put education first. we've made record investments in our classrooms... doubled the number of charter schools... and we've frozen college tuition for four years in a row. and it's working. experts say we now have the number one schools in the nation. when it comes to expanding opportunity in every neighborhood, i know that we must do even better. capital one bank. they're everywhere. ♪ yeah, you're right! [ horns honking ] hey, there's one right up the street.

[ male announcer ] capital one bank. the most branches and atms in the dc area. what's in your wallet? words alone aren't enough. our job is to listen and find ways to help workers who lost their jobs to the spill. i'm iris cross. we'll keep restoring the jobs, tourist beaches, and businesses impacted by the spill. we've paid over $400 million in claims and set up a $20 billion independently-run claims fund.

i was born in new orleans. my family still lives here. i'm gonna be here until we make this right. (announcer) new icy hot power gel. relief that's icy to dull pain, hot to relax it away. and no mess. new icy hot power gel. don't mess around with pain. at a time when immigration is one of its nationest hotly contested issues, a member of

the president's own family is fanning the flames. president obama's aunt, his late father has been living in this country for years illegally and receiving government benefits in boston. she spoke with jonathan elliot in her first television interview that you'll see here on 9. >> if i have come, you have the obligation to make me a citizen. >> this is president obama's aunt, the woman that is the poster child of our broken immigration system. we found out about her back in 2008. >> barack obama. >> it was the weekend before the november election. democratic presidential nominee, senator barack obama started getting questions about his aunt. an illegal immigrant living in public housing in boston. >> you're here illegally and he's running for the president of the united states. that's what i'm saying. >> obama did not know my where abouts. >> for the first time, she is

setting the record straight, sitting down with me. she come to the united states in 2000 and says she had every intention of going back to kenya, but she got sick and spent time in a hospital and nearly died. she became political foughter intended to hurt her nephew. she became a focal point of anger. how could she be here illegally for years living in government housing? >> i have been treating like public enemy number one. >> in 2004, she was ordered out of the country by an immigration judge. she didn't leave. >> did you know that you were staying in this country illegally? >> i knew i had to -- >> once she got out of the hospital, she lived in a homeless shelter for nearly two years and assigned public housing despite thousands of legal residents waiting for assistance. >> how do you respond to those families that would say, why is she getting anything? >> let me tell you.

i don't mind. you can take that house. i can't even be on the streets with homeless people. i didn't ask for it. they give it to me. and you better just ask the system, ask your system. i didn't clear the system. >> we're going to bring you part two of this report tomorrow night. she has hired a high priced high profile attorney to handle her immigration case and tomorrow, you will find out who she says is footing the bill. today, a mall owner in frederick is apologizing to a t- shirt vendor barred from selling shirts with a slogan, maryland stands with arizona. this reference is to arizona's controversial law. according to the post, mall management told the shop owner to immediately remove the shirt, calling them a nuisance. he sold out of the shirts of the weekend and has ordered

more. we keep talking about fall. >> yes. >> autumn. >> yes. >> but it's feeling more like summer. >> it will be tomorrow, i tell you what, especially on thursday and friday. we may hit 90 again. by the way, this morning, 56 downtown. that's as cool as we have been so far this season. what a nice day. it warmed up to 80. perfect. here's your forecast first. the next three days, tomorrow will be in the upper 80s. more like summer and fall arrives at 11:09 tomorrow night and then 90 on thursday. 90 on friday. yes, i have some symbols in there, but don't get hung up on that. a slight chance of a shower or storm wednesday, thursday, less so on friday night. we'll break down tomorrow. not as cool, so the kids may be able to get by without a sweatshirt in the morning. upper 60s to start. upper 50s in the suburbs. upper 80s by lunchtime. a nice day. look at the temperatures right now. in the 70s. 79 downtown.

77 in andrews. 75 up in gaithersburg. 83 down in fredericksburg and 78 as far north and west as haggerstown. for tonight, clear skies, not quite as chilly. low temperatures 56 to 64. all the suburbs are in the 40s this morning. not so tonight. you'll hold in the 50s. winds, south, southwesterly at 10 to 15. you had to close the windows last night, you could open them tonight. very comfortable. up in gaithersburg, maybe 56. if you're downtown or around the beltway, you are around 60 to the mid 60s. 64 in arlington and downtown. plenty of 50s out to the west. and 56 in leesburg. now tomorrow morning, mostly sunny, breezy, and pleasant. 50s and 60s. that southwest wind will bring in some of this warmer air and then by afternoon, partly cloudy, breezy, warmer, a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. we are betting against it. high temperatures in the upper 80s and winds out of the south at about 10 to 15.

really a perfect, perfect afternoon. next seven days, 88 tomorrow. again, fall arrives at 11:09 tomorrow night. that is equal day and equal night in both hemispheres. we go to fall and our friends to the south go into spring and it's going to feel more like summer. on thursday, we are 90. friday we are 90. and i got a drop here and a thunderstorm there, but few and far between, believe me. a little cooler on saturday. low 80s and then on sunday, we are back in the upper 70s. a slight chance of a shower and monday we are around 80 and tuesday, lesley, probably a better chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the day. tropical storm lisa did form. you can check it out on our website. we have ten, eleven days before we have to worry about it. >> we'll take a quick break. brett will be back with sports.

it's time for 9sports with brett haber, the best sports in

town. >> well, larry johnson was a great runningback. he has been to the pro bowl twice and in 2005 and 2006, he rushed for over 1700 yards. but was is a lot different than is. and with johnson unable to make an impression in washington, he has been cut. the announcement coming from the redskins 30 minutes ago. thanks johnson for his contributions. although there wasn't much of a contribution, johnson gained two yards on five carries and with the redskins netting just 18 rushing yards in all as a team on sunday, something in the run game needed to change. >> we are still learning this offense, so i'm sure that eventually everything will break out on the running game and it will make the passing game more dangerous. >> running game wasn't there, but it didn't have to be. when you don't turn the football over, usually you should find a way to win the football game and unfortunately, we didn't. >> skins were off today, but donovan mcnabb spent the afternoon hosting over a

thousand kids for a workout session as he continues to fight childhood obesity. donovan and teammates also on hand to coach the kids up. >> all right, after losing to west virginia on saturday, maryland football tries to rebound this weekend against florida international and if you've never heard of florida international and assumed the terps will beat them easily, tell that to texas a and m who was down two touchdowns to florida international in the fourth quarter this past week. making things harder for maryland. both of their quarterbacks are hurt. robinson has a sore throwing shoulder. back up danny o'brian has a sprained ankle. that's not good. >> it would be a strong quarterback, having three guys, you know, and one of them is done and the others are nicked up. and so hopefully we can get them well. that's the biggest concern i have right now is being able to get them well. >> speaking of quarterbacks being injured, a flip-flop in philly within the last hour.

eagles coach, andy reid announcing that michael vick will start this sunday against the jacksonville jaguars. vick threw for 382 yards and looked great against the lions on sunday. just 48 hours ago, reid insisted that kevin cobb would be his starter. for those of us who slugged through a month of training camp with the redskins, how about the caps? they open training camp on saturday. it's over today. one final scrimmage this morning and now it is off to columbus tonight for the preseason opener tomorrow. the caps also signing defenseman tom to a two-year $6 million contract extension today. that's a slight pay cut for pody, which he accepted because -- >> i think this is the best chance and not just one, but more than one cup hopefully. i was willing to leave some money on the table to have a chance at that. >> then look what happened after practice today.

the caps decided that all of us guys who spend our lives critiquing them aught to get out on the ice. thankfully, there was no checking because i probably be in the er right now. and how about the honor that i received before the game, getting my jersey from the head coach himself. >> how are you? >> really? are you not concerned that i'm going to disgrace these glorious colors? >> that's why we didn't put a name and number on it. >> he is no dummy. he isn't going to let me deface the red jersey. it was fun out there. we had some fun. >> you were still on both feet. you didn't fall down. at least not in the video. okay. okay. all right. >> i'm no dummy. the editor works for us. >> you made him look good. good job. speaking of a job, if you're looking for a job, the state of maryland has a new tool that can help. it's an expansion of the maryland work force exchange

and it brings together job search websites, employer websites and every job posting in maryland. it's a one job stop place. and you can find a link to it under the 9news extra section of our website. wusa9.com. and since we are talking about things that are important here at wusa9. we want to remind you about an important campaign. it's called the great hangup. it's an effort to get everyone to stoop using cell phones illegally while driving. we want to share your story on the air. you can tell us about your story, just go to wusa9.com or call us at 202-895-5960. we are going to take us out of here with weather. >> are you ready? it's going to feel more like summer tomorrow, thursday, and friday. here we go. seven-day. thank you. i can't speak unless i hear the bell. fall begins tomorrow at 11:09 and talking about 88 tomorrow

for a high. 90 on thursday and 90 on friday. i have a shower and thunderstorm and a drop here, they are few and far between. please do not bank on that. cooler over the weekend, back in the low 80s. perhaps a shower as we get into sunday. and the next seven days, tuesday is the best chance for showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures in the upper 70s. fall equal day and equal night, we go to fall, our friends go to spring. our friends of the south have the coolest winters ever. >> in the southern hemisphere. >> you have friends down there? >> i was going to say, he is a world traveler. he knows everybody. that's it for us, the cbs evening news with katie couric is next. bruce johnson is in for derek continue at 7:00 and tomorrow, get up early with andrea, angie, and howard. they will see you at 4:25 a.m. have a good night. >> couric: tonight, gays in the military. an attempt